Guns, grenades dug up at Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines – At least 20 firearms and three grenades, buried in various parts of the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP)’s maximum security compound, were unearthed in successive clearing operations yesterday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the discovery of the firearms was based on tips from inmates who are cooperating with prison officials following regular dialogues.

Rolando Asuncion, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge, said the inmates who pointed to the location of the firearms “were given certain privileges, including priority in visitation rights of loved ones.”

He said the firearms were hidden behind walls and covered with concrete.

BuCor personnel and Special Action Force police officers recovered 16 handguns, four homemade guns, an Ingram machine pistol and three grenades.

Asuncion reported that the firearms were smuggled into the prison compound before the police commandos took over securing the facility last July.

Earlier this month, authorities recovered a 9mm submachine gun from an old oven, two .45 caliber pistols from the ceiling of the NBP Hospital and a 9mm pistol from one of the dormitories in the maximum security compound.

The seized firearms will be submitted to the police crime laboratory to determine their origin and ownership.